USA 1-2 GHANAA stunning win for Ghana who celebrate wildly at full time, scarcely believing what they've achieved here. They deserved the win, too, for a committed performance of real guts, determination and organisation, embodied perfectly by lone frontman Asamoah Gyan who was outstanding. His brilliantly-taken goal was ultimately the difference between the two sides, with the US unable to rouse themselves for one final late stunner. The Americans dominated the second half and should have won the game in normal time, but took their foot off the gas and paid for it in extra time. They'll be kicking themselves for the next four years, particularly at their defensive frailties for both goals, but for Ghana it's all about the future - they face Uruguay for a place in the World Cup semi finals on Friday. Full time in Rustenburg, USA 1 Ghana 2.

123'

FULL TIME!Ghana have done it! Africa will have a representative in the World Cup quarter finals.

122'

DEMPSEY HEADERDefending of the last ditch variety from Jonathan with Donovan, Gomez and Dempsey lurking for a shot on the edge of the box. Dempsey then nods a cross wide and that might be that. Just one minutes to go.

121'

PRESSUREKingson heroically punches Donovan's inswinger clear. It's lumped back in and DeMerit loops a volley over the bar from 18 yards. Ghana's time wasting has yielded three minutes of added time, by the way.

120'

CORNEREveryone forward as the US win a throw down on the right. It's crossed towards Gomez who heads back to Dempsey - his shot is blocked. Gomez then hits a deflected shot wide. Corner with seconds to go and Tim Howard is up...

OFF TARGETBradley's long ball to Gomez is off target. The substitute has made little impact, though.

117'

OUT ON THEIR FEETWe're all expecting a late US goal but they look out on their feet, Bob Bradley's side. Can they muster one last huge effort?

116'

FLICKED ONHe crosses for Gyan but his flick-on comes to nothing.

116'

CORNERGhana have got the ball just where they want it, with five minutes to go. They've won a corner and Muntari will surely try and keep the ball down there.

115'

PING PONGPing pong in the box from a deep US free kick but it falls kindly for Kingson.

114'

POOR CROSSDonovan works a corner short to Cherundolo but his poor cross is on Asamoah's head. Just not happening for the US yet. Knowing them they'll leave it for the 121st minute.

113'

GHANA SUBInkoom isn't injured, but he is now off the field. Sulley Muntari is sent on to shore things up.

111'

INKOOM 'INJURED'Inkoom is the latest to exaggerate an injury, much to the displeasure of the booing US fans in the crowd. Ghana are doing a good job of restricting any US momentum to a rare cross here and there.

109'

PUNCHED CLEARDonovan sends a decent free kick from the left of the box towards the danger area but, under severe pressure, Kingson punches clear. Excellent goalkeeping from him, not for the first time tonight.

107'

APPIAH DOWNAppiah is down from Edu's challenge and takes a good minute to stand up. Bocanegra is unhappy with what he sees and lets Appiah know.

106'

EXTRA TIME SECOND HALFThe final 15 minutes is underway. Surely the US aren't going to go out without a late flourish?

105'

HALF TIMEJust 15 to go in this last 16 clash and Ghana are in charge of their own destiny. Defend for their lives and they'll be in the quarter finals.

103'

POOR PASSFive on five for the US as they break, but Donovan's pass is neither here nor there. They've lost their zip.

102'

LOST THEIR SHAPEThe US have lost their shape a bit here and seem very put out by the Gyan goal. Think they expected to score next, but it's Ghana who have the all-important advantage in Rustenburg.

100'

SLOWING THINGS DOWNGhana are taking advantage of every stoppage here, slowing things down where they can. And who can blame them - they're 20 minutes from the World Cup quarter finals.

98'

RARE CORNERA rare corner for the US which Kingson flaps at as Bocanegra nods wide. Ayew is back on the field.

97'

AYEW OFFAyew was hurt in that incident, presumably from clashing with one of his own players. He's off the field for now.

96'

BLOCKEDBornstein's deep cross is nodded back to Feilhaber, whose 15 yard drive is into a crowd of Ghana defenders but doesn't test Kingson.

96'

THE HARD WAYSo the US are going to have to come from behind yet again. They don't do things the easy way, Bob Bradley's boys.

95'

JUST REWARDIt's Gyan's third goal of the World Cup and just reward for a selfless, committed bustling forward display of real heart and no little quality.

93'

USA 1-2 GHANAWell I don't think anyone predicted that - Ghana have just retaken the lead in spectacular fashion. ASAMOAH GYAN beats Bocanegra and DeMerit to an Ayew hoof over the top, before crashing a wonderful half-volley through Howard. Awful goal defensively, but Gyan finished in style.

92'

PENSIVEEven Bob Bradley, an almost constant cheerleader on the sidelines for the US, looks pensive. Fingernails at the ready - this is getting very tense.

91'

EXTRA TIMEThe first extra time of the 2010 World Cup is underway.

90'

USA SUBBob Bradley has made his final throw of the dice, replacing Jozy Altidore with Herculez Gomes up top.

90'

SUBDUED ENDINGLet's hope it opens up more in extra time after a rather subdued late ten minutes or so. Ghana look the tireder of the two sides, which could well become a factor.

90'

FULL TIMEUSA and Ghana cannot be separated over 90 minutes. Thirty more to come in Rustenburg.

90'

CORNERLate, late corner for Ghana. Asamoah swings in and it's headed over.

90'

BOOKINGAyew catches the legs of Altidore as the US break and takes a late booking. That will rule him out of Ghana's next game.

90'

ADDED TIMEWe're into the first of three added minutes.

90'

DANGEROUS CROSSAyew and Inkoom combine nicely on the right but the latter's cross is nodded clear with gusto by DeMerit. He accidentally catches Gyan with a boot in the chest in the process and Ghana's lone frontman needs a minute to recover.

86'

TIME RUNNING OUTIf it's going to happen now it'll be in the dramatic late winner category. The US look the more likely but time is fast running out. Can they strike late for a third game on the trot?

83'

FEEDING OFF SCRAPSGyan is feeding off scraps but he's doing a decent job. The Rennes striker is again deep in the area when he nods an Appiah cross not-too far wide.

81'

ALTIDORE CHANCEI tell you what though, they very nearly put themselves in the quarter finals there. A long ball over the top finds Altidore jostling with Mensah into the box. With the keeper committed Altidore could slot into the corner but slips and crashes just past the far post with his left foot. Big chance.

80'

REINED INBob Bradley's side appear to have reined themselves in a bit here, with extra time looming large. The pace of the action has slowed considerably.

78'

APPIAH ONStephen Appiah replaces Boateng.

77'

BOATENG DOWNMore bad news for the Black Stars - their talisman Boateng is injured. In fact he's already left the field with what looks like a calf strain.

76'

BRADLEY CHANCEGhana have gone five at the back but the US play straight through them, with Altidore slotting to the overlapping Bradley. He's free on the left of the box but can't find either corner with his low shot and Kingson saves with ease.

75'

GYAN HEADERInkoom sends a cross towards Gyan and he offers up a commendable 15-yard header, which loops over the bar.

74'

GRANDSTAND FINISH?It's hardly set the world on fire, this game, but we could be in for a grandstand last 16 minutes or so. Neither team wants extra time, surely?

73'

GHANA SUBCentre half Lee Addy is on, replacing a tiring Hans Sarpei.

70'

NO WAY THROUGHPantsil blocks off Edu as the Rangers midfielder looks to find a route to goal.

69'

ASCENDANCYThe US are still in the ascendancy here but Ghana are starting to look tasty on the break, with Gyan and Asamoah finding room.

GREAT TACKLEAltidore is played through on goal by the very lively Donovan. He looks to round Kingson but the Ghana keeper storms in with a superb sliding feet-first tackle.

63'

GAME OF TWO HALVESIt's the oldest cliche in the football book of dodgy cliches, but this has been a game of two halves. Only one winner from this point, unless Ghana can compose themselves. They're starting to show their age, the young Black Stars.

62'

USA 1-1 GHANAYou don't save them. LANDON DONOVAN sends Kingson the wrong way, slotting in off the right-hand post. It's his third goal of the tournament.

61'

PENALTY!Felihaber plays through Ghana's defence and Dempsey latches onto a Donovan flick and storms into the box before Jonathan takes him out. He got none of the ball and can have no complaints. Jonathan is booked, too.

58'

COUNTERQuick counter from the Black Stars as a sleeping Bornstein leaves Ayew free on their right. Ayew looks for Gyan at the back stick but DeMerit gets in the way and Howard sweeps up the mess.

57'

STUCKGhana can't get out of their own half at the moment. Milovan Rajevac must be thinking about a change to steady their wobbly midfield.

53'

DELICIOUS CROSSDonovan clips a delicious cross into the corridor of uncertainty, which just evades the outstretched leg of Altidore in front of goal. Won't be long before we're all square in Rustenburg at this rate - the US have stepped things up big time.

53'

GYAN WIDEGyan is too hot with the trigger now, driving wide from distance.

51'

WASTEDBoateng turns Donovan inside and out down Ghana's left, but completely wastes his wildly over-hit cross. In fact he might have gone for a shot there - very selfish. Ah the petulance of youth.

50'

BENNY LEFTSo Feilhaber is on the left flank, with Dempsey up top with Altidore. Herculez Gomez, if fit, will see that as a bit of a snub.

49'

TEAM TRANSFORMEDMuch better from the Americans in the opening stages of this half. They suddenly look alive to every loose ball and are attacking with vim and vigour. Bob Bradley's half time rant has done the trick for now.

SECOND HALFWe're back playing again in Rustenburg where Benny Feilhaber has replaced Robbie Findley up front for the US.

45'

HALF TIMEAll-too easy for Ghana who take a precious - but vulnerable - lead into the break at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. They've moved the ball around nicely, if a little cautiously, while the US have huffed and puffed without any end result. They need to up the tempo in the second half or their World Cup dream could be over.

43'

HIGH AND WIDEBoateng cutely back-heels for Asamoah on the corner of the box and he crashes high and wide. With a bit more composure in front of goal Ghana would have a more comfortable half time lead.

41'

POSSESSIONThe Americans are enjoying the lion's share of possession here but doing precious little with it. Donovan has been almost non-existent on the right flank.

37'

ASAMOAH CHANCEDeMerit lets a goal kick loop over his head and Asamoah scampers in behind. You'd fancy him to score from there (ten yards out, left of centre) but Howard makes a decent block. Again, below-par finishing.

35'

POOR FINISHBut suddenly Jonathan makes a right hash of a clearance and Dempsey pings in back into Findley's path. He's through on the right of the box but shoots straight at Kingson from 15 yards. Poor finish.

34'

NOTHING DOINGNot much doing in Rustenburg where the US are still desperately lacking any sharpness or cutting edge. Ghana are sitting back.

31'

USA SUBRicardo Clark has had a bit of a stinker tonight and is rather embarrassingly withdrawn after just 31 minutes. He at least gets a lengthy explanation and a hug from the boss as he leaves the field. Maurice Edu is on.

29'

CONFIDENTBoateng's confidence must be at an all-time high. He shoots first-time from 30 yards and it's down Howard's throat.

28'

TIME TO CHANGEBob Bradley is lining up a change already and I can't see any obvious injuries on the park. Maurice Edu is about to join us.

27'

CRUNCHUNGGyan slots a gorgeous pass through for Boateng to chase and Demerit has to get in a crunching challenge to deny the Portsmouth man a run on goal. Inkoom then horribly chips the resulting cross past Boateng in the box.

26'

CONTENTGhana meanwhile seem very content to patiently probe down either flank with some simple passing moves.

25'

LACKING URGENCYThe stakes are so so high here but you wouldn't know it from this US performance this far. They're lacking urgency.

23'

GRABBEDBradley gets on the end of Dempsey's slide rule pass to the byline, but sees his cross confidently grabbed by Wigan's fourth-choice keeper Richard Kingson.

21'

FIRST OPEN GOALIncidentally Boateng's strike was Ghana's first goal from open play in the tournament so far. If their defence stays resolute it might just be enough for a quarter final spot.

BOOKINGCherundolo loses possession to Ayew and as the Ghana man races inside towards the box the American full back takes out his ankles. A deserved yellow, which rules Cherundolo out of a potential quarter final.

15'

ALERTDonovan tries to play in the onrushing Findley but Jonathan sweeps up the mess with some alert defending.

14'

STRUGGLINGUSA are really struggling to get going here. Altidore and Findley have barely touched the ball up front - Bradley and Clark just aren't imposing themselves in midfield.

12'

MILES OVERAndre Ayew is given acres on the left flank and cuts a low cross back into the box. It's cleared to Boateng who, pecker clearly up, lashes miles over the bar.

10'

LATE BLOOMERSWe shouldn't be entirely surprised that USA have surrendered an early lead. They conceded a fourth minute goal to England's Steven Gerrard before pulling back to 1-1, and fell two behind to Slovenia in their next game which eventually finished up 2-2 late on.

7'

BOOKINGRicardo Clark's evening isn't getting much better. He's the first man in Viktor Kassai's book for a rash, late challenge.

5'

USA 0-1 GHANAA star might just have been born there - KEVIN-PRINCE BOATENG has scored an absolute scorcher. He turns Clark on halfway and hares towards the box with no US defender able to get a challenge in. On the edge of the box he drills low, left-footed and to Howard's near post, leaving the keeper flailing. Top, top goal.

5'

DECENT ATTEMPTClint Dempsey lets fly with a far more forceful left-footed effort from range, which stings the palms of Richard Kingson.

4'

INKOOM SHOTFirst shot for the Africans but it's a poor one from right midfielder Samuel Inkoom, who pulls wide from 30 yards.

3'

URUGUAY AWAITSo we know now that whoever triumphs will play Uruguay for a place in the World Cup semi finals. Tonight's loser may well wonder what might have been for years to come - opportunities like this don't come around too often.

2'

EARLY POSSESSIONEarly possession for Ghana who appear to be playing 4-5-1, with Kwadwo Asamoah playing behind Asamoah Gyan. Donovan then drives a ball across goal for the US.

1'

KICK OFFWe're playing in Rustenburg.

0'

NATIONAL ANTHEMSPatriotic shoulder-arm linking from the American XI who give the Star-Spangled Banner everything they've got. As does Bill Clinton, stood in the stands. Quite a fan to have there. Ghana have got the majority of Africa behind them and their anthem gets a healthy backing in the crowd too. Right, nearly kick off time.

PREDICTIONMomentum is all-important in World Cups and USA picked up exactly that with their spectacularly late and memorable victory over Algeria. Ghana's lack of goals from open play is a worry and that's why Bob Bradley's boys are the more likely winners here. USA 2-1 Ghana.

0'

ONES TO WATCHCombative midfielder Michael Bradley gets plenty of stick for being the boss's son but the 22-year-old has come of age in the last few weeks. Jonathan Mensah is only 19 but his accomplished displays at the heart of Ghana's defence have impressed many.

0'

STAR PLAYERSLandon Donovan has been making waves on the other side of the Atlantic for years now, but a hugely successful loan spell at Premier League Everton has given him global recognition, which he's carried on with aplomb into South Africa. Kevin Prince-Boateng has looked superb in Ghana's midfield, despite only making his international debut just before the start of the tournament.

0'

TOURNAMENT SO FARNo team's progression to the last 16 was more dramatic than USA's. They were heading out of the tournament 92 minutes into their third group stage game, until Landon Donovan was the right man in the right place to slam home a last-gasp winner against Algeria. Ghana needed just two goals to qualify and both of those were Asamoah Gyan penalties, with their crucial result being a 1-0 win over Serbia.

0'

THE REFHungarian official Viktor Kassai takes charge of his third World Cup 2010 fixture. So far he's given two highly commendable performances, handing out four yellow cards and no reds during Brazil 2-1 North Korea and Mexico 0-1 Uruguay.

0'

STADIUMBoth sides will feel right at home in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, having played there once already. USA drew 1-1 with England in the 42,000 capacity ground while Ghana also played out a 1-1 draw, with Australia.

0'

EARLY TEAM NEWSBob Bradley has striker Robbie Findley back from suspension and he's likely to replace Herculez Gomez to partner Jozy Altidore up front. Defender Isaac Vorsah is still out injured for Ghana, but other than that Milovan Rajevac has no injury concerns.

0'

INTROUSA and Ghana go head to head in Rustenburg tonight know that they'll never get a better chance to reach a World Cup semi final. With their quarter of the draw opening up nicely, a favourable quarter final against either Uruguay or South Korea awaits the victor.